Braham was born in the Parish of Chorlton on Medlock near the town of Manchester in the registration district of Hulme, Lancashire on the 26^th of February 1852 and registered as Abraham. The first born son of Richard, a Cottonspinner, later to become a manager and then an Assurance Agent. the "A" from his name was quickly dropped and became known as Braham. According to the census records of 1861 and 1871 he lived in Derbyshire and Lancashire until he enlisted in the 99th Regt of Foot on the 19th of January 1873 in Manchester (record of enlistment here). He served two years in that Regiment serving in Shorncliffe (a barracks near Folkestone Kent), and various posts in Scotland. For a chronology of the 99^th Foot for the time that Braham spent in the 99^th Foot click here.

Transferring to the Royal Military Asylum in January of 1875 for eighteen months of academic training he became an Army Schoolmaster - muster roll showing transfer to the RMA from the 99th Foot on completion of the course here, (For an intensive history of the RMA click here). After graduating from the RMA he chose to become attached to the 3rd King's Own Hussars as a Schoolmaster. Muster records, here, show him serving in Manchester, and Cahir Ireland before being moved to Cork in 1887. It is known that he served in Colchester (After Cork and before Athlone?) as some of his children show Colchester schools on their enlistment papers.

It is presumed, by tracking the movements of British Army units and cross referencing the dates of the birth of his children he was attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, in India, between the years of 1880 and 1886.

Returning home to the 3 KOH he re-engaged in order to serve his 21 years necessary to complete a contract. Army records show him exceeding that service and when he died, in service, he had served over 28 years. At some point in time, probably just before his death and after the reorganisation of the Corps of Army Schoolmasters (schoolmasters became teachers in Garrisons as opposed to being attached to Regiments) he served in the garrison of Athlone as a Garrison Schoolmaster for 4.5 years.

He died on the 24th of July 1901 at the Royal Infirmary in Sheffield. The cause on his death certificate being "cirrhosis of the liver and exhaustion". Whether he had his family with him is unknown but his wife and four children were recorded in the 1901 Irish census, taken in April of that year in Athlone Ireland. He was incorrectly enumerated in the 1901 Irish Census, being transcribed as Bond and in the Military Hospital in Athlone, this was in April 1901

Further research has uncovered the death notices (from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph) of Braham and Sarah here. Both are buried in the same plot at the Walkley cemetary in Sheffield (G south 2 - G 580)

Gallery :
This collection of files illustrates Braham's short life. Some of them are in PDF form and may take time to download

1861 census, this shows Braham living with his Grandfather in New Mills Derbyshire. His Grandfather was an Assurance agent.
1861 census, this shows where his father, a Book Keeper, and the rest of the family was living - New Mills, Derbyshire.
1871 census, this shows the complete family living in Ardwick Manchester, Lancashire.
The Army papers (pdf), Attestation papers, re-engagement papers and the 1901 Army list showing his Warrant Officer status and the report of his death in the casualty list.
The Muster Rolls (pdf) , these rolls how where he was stationed, in the period 1876 -80, and how much he was paid in 30 day periods
Birth certificate, Braham's record of birth, 26^th February 1852
Wedding certificate, Braham married Sarah Ellen Gregory, in Sheffield, on August 20^th 1878
Death certificate, Braham's record of death 24^th July 1901 in Sheffield
Regimental movements, This chart shows that although Braham was attached to the 3 KOH he was in India at the stations ocupied by the 2^nd Bn. Leicestershire regt.
Maps of Colonial India, these show the Colonial administration districts and the locations of the places that Braham and his family lived in.
Bengal, Bombay, Madras

Back to the main page